Apparatus, systems and methods for storing program events in an enhanced history buffer

ABSTRACT

Enhanced history buffer systems and methods are operable to temporarily store program content for program events. An exemplary embodiment receives program content corresponding to each of the plurality of program events, generates a unique discrete program content file in the enhanced history buffer for each of the plurality of program events, and stores the received program content for each of the plurality of program events in the associated one of the discrete program content files. Each discrete program content file begins at a known starting location in the enhanced history buffer and ends at a known ending location in the enhanced history buffer.

BACKGROUND

Media devices, such as a set top box, are configured to receive numerousprogram content streams from a content service provider. The programcontent streams are provided over a content delivery system. Examples ofcontent delivery systems include a satellite content distribution systemor a cable content distribution system.

A user may configure their media device to tune to particular programcontent of interest. Program events in the selected program content maythen be presented on a display and/or stored in a digital video recorder(DVR) or the like.

Media devices typically include a “history buffer” that temporarilystores currently received portions of the currently presented programevent. The history buffer allows a user to pause and/or rewindpresentation of the program event. However, the amount of stored programcontent in the history buffer is limited by some predefined amount sincethe capacity of the history buffer is limited.

Since storage capacity of the history buffer is limited, the user canonly rewind the program event by a limited duration. Beyond thatduration, the program event will not be available (as it has likely beenoverwritten with the more recently received portions of the programevent). Further, presentation of the program event may only be pausedfor a limited duration because of the limited storage capacity of thehistory buffer. At some point, the paused portion of the program eventwill be lost as more currently received program content overwrites thepaused portion of the program event.

If the user retunes their media device to a different program event, thecontent of the history buffer is also lost. The user cannot return tothe previous program event and view previously presented portions of theprogram event. Further, if the program event concludes and a new programevent begins, the concluding program event is lost. The user is not ableto rewind back to the previous program event. Also, when the mediadevice is turned off, the content of the history buffer may be lost.

Typically, the user is not able to save any portion of the programcontent saved in the history buffer because the DVR function is separatefrom the temporary storage function provided by the history buffer. Evenif the media device is configured to save content from the historybuffer, the content must be reprocessed and then saved into the DVR.

Digital rights management (DRM) information is typically not stored inthe history buffer. Thus, even if portions of the program event contentstored in the history buffer could be reconfigured for storage into theDVR, DRM violations may occur. Similarly, parental control settinginformation is not stored in the history buffer. If portions of thecontent stored in the history buffer are retrieved and stored into theDVR, parental control violations may occur.

Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to enhance storage and accessto history buffer program event content.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods of temporarily storing program events are disclosed.An exemplary embodiment receives program content corresponding to eachof the plurality of program events, generates a unique discrete programcontent file in the enhanced history buffer for each of the plurality ofprogram events, and stores the received program content for each of theplurality of program events in the associated one of the discreteprogram content files. Each discrete program content file begins at aknown starting location in the enhanced history buffer and ends at aknown ending location in the enhanced history buffer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an enhanced history bufferimplemented in a media device; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an enhanced historybuffer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an enhanced history buffer100 implemented in a media device 102, such as, but not limited to, aset top box (STB). Embodiments of the enhanced history buffer 100 may beimplemented in other media devices, such as, but not limited to,stereos, radios, televisions (TVs), digital video disc (DVD) players,digital video recorders (DVRs), game playing devices, or personalcomputers (PCs) that are configured to temporarily save currentlyreceived program event content.

Embodiments of the enhanced history buffer 100 save the program contentof currently presented program events into unique discrete programcontent files 104. Each discrete program content file 104 has a definedstart location and a defined end location in the enhanced history buffer100. When a program event change is detected, the recording of thecurrent program event ends and its respective discrete program contentfile 104 is closed. A new discrete program content file 104 is generatedfor storing the program content of the next program event in theenhanced history buffer 100.

Non-limiting examples of a program event change include a conclusion ofthe program event, a change to a different program event, or an end ofpresentation of the current program event. Ending presentation of theprogram event may occur when the user turns off the media device 102,switches to a different media source such as a digital video disk (DVD)player, or retrieves a previously recorded program event from the mediadevice DVR.

In an exemplary embodiment, each discrete program content file 104 isinitially identified as a temporary file. When the memory storagecapacity of the enhanced history buffer 100 becomes fully utilized, thenthe remaining portion of the currently generated discrete programcontent files 104 may be stored into the enhanced history buffer 100 byoverwriting, deleting, erasing, or otherwise replacing the oldest one ofthe plurality of discrete program content files 104 that are identifiedas temporary files.

In some embodiments, selected discrete program content files 104 may besaved on a permanent, or semi-permanent, basis. For example, a temporarydiscrete program content file 104 may be selectively designated as asaved discrete program content file 104. When the memory storagecapacity of the enhanced history buffer 100 becomes fully utilized, thennewly generated discrete program content files 104 will not overwrite,delete, erase, or otherwise replace the discrete program content files104 that are identified as saved files.

A user may, at their convenience, rewind back to any program event thatis stored in a discrete program content file 104. For example, a usermay wish to rewind back past the last program event change, or rewindback past multiple program event changes, to access a particular programevent of interest. Embodiments can access the program event of interestsince each one of the plurality of program events are readilyidentifiable by their attributes saved in their respective discreteprogram content file 104.

In selected embodiments, a history buffer guide 106 may be presented ona display 108 of a media presentation device 110, such as the exemplarytelevision, to assist the user to select a program event of interestthat has been stored in one of the discrete program content files 104.In an exemplary embodiment, the history buffer guide 106 is a bannertype menu that is interactive with the user.

In some embodiments, the history buffer guide 106 is a graphical userinterface (GUI) that presents a menu of a combination of text andsymbols to indicate program event viewing choices that may be selectedby the user. The user, via a remote control 134, may “scroll” or“navigate” about the history buffer guide 106 to select a program eventof interest that has been stored in the enhanced history buffer 100.When the user highlights the portion of the enhanced history buffer 100corresponding to a program event of interest, the user may actuate oneor more actuators 136 on their remote control 134 to cause the mediadevice 102 to present the selected program event of interest.

For example, the user may understand that the portion of the historybuffer guide 106 denoted as “PE 1” corresponds to the current programevent, and that program events denoted as “PE 2” and “PE 3” correspondto previously received program events. If the user selects the “PE 3”portion of the history buffer guide 106, that particular previouslysaved program event will be retrieved from the enhanced history buffer100 and is presented to the user. Presentation may begin at the start ofthe selected program event. In other embodiments, the presentation maybegin at the end of the selected program event.

The relative length of each labeled portion of the history buffer guide106 may correspond to the duration of the saved program event in thatparticular discrete program content file 104. For example, the “PE 2”portion of the history buffer guide 106 is shorter than the “PE 1” and“PE 2” portions. The user would understand that the duration of theprogram event in the “PE 2” portion of the enhanced history buffer 100is less than the durations of the program events stored in the “PE 1”and “PE 2” portions.

Alternatively, or additionally, program events that have been saved intothe enhanced history buffer 100 may be indicated on a conventionalelectronic program guide (EPG). For example, an icon or text message maybe added into the EPG to indicate that at least a portion of aparticular program event has been saved into the enhanced history buffer100.

The functionality of the non-limiting exemplary media device 102, here aset top box, is now broadly described. The media device 102 comprises aprogram content stream interface 112, a processor system 114, a memory116, a program buffer 118, an optional digital video recorder (DVR) 120,a presentation device interface 122, and the enhanced history buffer100. The memory 116 comprises portions for storing the enhanced historybuffer manager 124, an optional history buffer index 126, and the mediadevice logic 128. The program content stream interface 112 includes oneor more tuners 130 configured to selectively tune to a particularcontent stream that provides a program event of interest. The exemplarymedia device 102 has two tuners 130 a and 130 b. Other media devices mayinclude some, or may omit some, of the above-described media processingcomponents. Further, additional components not described herein may beincluded in alternative embodiments.

The exemplary media device 102 is configured to perform a variety offunctions on received media. The general functionality of the mediadevice 102 is controlled by the media device logic 128 which isretrieved and executed by the processor system 114.

The enhanced history buffer 100 is managed by the enhanced historybuffer manager 124 which is retrieved and executed by the processorsystem 114. In some embodiments, the media device logic 128 and theenhanced history buffer manager 124 may be integrated together. In otherembodiments, the media device logic 128 and the enhanced history buffermanager 124 may reside in different memory media.

A program content provider provides program content in a program contentstream 132. Multiple program content streams 132 may be multiplexedtogether in a transport channel. The transport channels with the programcontent streams 132 are communicated to the media device 102 from amedia system sourced from a remote head end facility (not shown)operated by a content service provider. Non-limiting examples of suchmedia systems include satellite systems, cable system, and the Internet.For example, if the content service provider provides programming via asatellite-based communication system, the media device 102 is configuredto receive one or more broadcasted satellite signals detected by anantenna (not shown). Alternatively, or additionally, the program contentstreams 132 may be received from one or more different sources, such as,but not limited to, a cable system, a radio frequency (RF) communicationsystem, or the Internet.

The program content streams 132 are received by the program contentstream interface 112. One or more tuners 130 a, 130 b selectively tuneto one of the program content streams 132 in accordance withinstructions received from the processor system 114. Alternatively, oradditionally, the program content stream interface 112 may comprise anInternet connection that receives one or more content streams 132 fromthe Internet.

The processor system 114, based upon a user instruction that specifies aprogram event of interest, parses out program content received from thetuners 130. In an exemplary embodiment, user instructions may becommunicated to the media device 102 from a remote control 134. The useractuates one or more of the controllers 136 on the remote control 134 togenerate the user instructions. The user instructions may be wirelesslytransmitted from the remote control 134 to the media device 102 using asuitable wireless signal, such as an infrared signal or a radiofrequency (RF) signal.

The specified program of interest is then assembled into a stream ofvideo and/or audio information which is stored by the program buffer 118such that the program content is streamed out to the media presentationdevice 110, via the presentation device interface 122. Alternatively, oradditionally, the parsed out program content may be saved into the DVR120 for later presentation.

As the processor system 114 parses out the program content received fromthe tuners 130, the program event of interest is saved into a discreteprogram content file 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the program eventis saved into its unique discrete program content file 104 concurrentlyas the stream of video and/or audio information is communicated to themedia presentation device 110.

In an exemplary embodiment, the optional history buffer index 126contains information pertaining to the program events stored in theplurality of discrete program content files 104. The processing system114 accesses the information in the history buffer index 126 to generatethe history buffer guide 106.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of the enhancedhistory buffer 100. The program content associated with the currentlypresented program event is saved into its unique discrete programcontent file 104. As a program event change occurs, a new uniquediscrete program content file 104 is generated for the new programevent. The program content of the new program event is saved into itsunique discrete program content file 104 for as long as that particularnew program event is presented. Accordingly, the enhanced history buffer100 contains a plurality of discrete program content files 104 a-104 i.

Each discrete program content file 104 includes a start boundary marker202, program event information 204, content stream information 206, anoptional storage flag 208, and an end boundary marker 210. The startboundary marker 202 identifies the starting location of its respectivediscrete program content file 104 in the enhanced history buffer 100.The end boundary marker 210 identifies the ending location of itsrespective discrete program content file 104 in the enhanced historybuffer 100.

The program event information 204 contains selected information ofinterest pertaining to the stored program event. Program eventinformation may include, but is not limited to, a title of the programevent, a source identifier, a start time, an end time, digital rightsmanagement (DRM) information, and/or a presentation date. Any suitableinformation of interest may reside in the program event information 204.

The content stream information 206 portion of the discrete programcontent file 104 contains the program event content comprised of videoand/or audio information. The amount of memory capacity used for thecontent stream information 206 is variable so as to provide sufficientcapacity to store program content during the duration of the currentlypresented program event.

In practice, the media device 102 tunes one of the tuners 130 a or 130 bto a particular program content stream 132 based on a user selection ofa program event of interest. The selected program event may then becommunicated to the media presentation device 110, such as the exemplarytelevision. The video portion of the program event is presented on thedisplay 108 and the audio portion of the program event is presented onthe television speakers or on another audio device (not shown).

As the media device 102 is processing the program content stream 132 forcommunication to the media presentation device 110, the program contentis stored into its respective discrete program content file 104. Storageof the program event into its respective discrete program content file104 begins by defining or selecting a location in the memory mediumwhere the streaming program content for the presented program event willbegin to be stored. A suitable identifier is stored into the startboundary marker 202 portion of the discrete program content file 104 todenote or otherwise mark the beginning location of the discrete programcontent file 104 in the enhanced history buffer 100. Accordingly, thestarting location in the enhanced history buffer 100 where the discreteprogram content file 104 begins is known or is determinable.

Program event information pertaining to the currently received programevent is retrieved from the program content stream 132. Selected programevent information is stored into the program event information 204portion the respective discrete program content file 104.

Video and/or audio information of the streaming program content for thepresented program event is then stored into the content streaminformation 206 portion of the respective discrete program content file104. Storing of the video and/or audio information continues until aprogram event change occurs.

When a program event change is detected, storage of the video and/oraudio information of the streaming program content for the program eventends. A suitable identifier is then stored into the respective endboundary marker 210 to mark or otherwise denote the ending location ofits respective discrete program content file 104. Accordingly, theending location of the discrete program content file 104 is known or isdeterminable.

Program event changes may be detected based upon instructions receivedfrom the remote control 134, such as when the user changes programchannels, turns off the media device 102, or causes the media device 102to receive programming from another source, such as an external DVDplayer. Alternatively, program event changes may be detected byinformation in the received program content stream 132, such as when aprogram event concludes or when a program event begins. Any suitableprocess for detecting program event changes may be used by the variousembodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, the optional storage flag 208 is initiallyset to a default value that indicates that the discrete program contentfile 104 a is a temporary file. Accordingly, when the memory storagecapacity of the enhanced history buffer 100 becomes fully utilized, anolder temporary program event in the discrete program content file 104may be overwritten as needed to accommodate storage of newer programevents.

In embodiments that do not employ the storage flag 208 feature, alldiscrete program content files 104 are temporary and will beoverwritten, deleted, or otherwise erased to provide storage for theprogram content of the currently presented program event. In suchembodiments, if the user wishes to save a program event stored in atemporary discrete program content file 104, the program event may betransferred to another medium, such as the DVR 120.

When a program event change next occurs, the new program event issimilarly processed and saved into a new discrete program content file104. Accordingly, a starting location for the new discrete programcontent file 104 is saved into its respective start boundary marker 202,program event information for the new program event is saved into itsrespective program event information 204, and the video and/or audioinformation of the new program event is saved into its respectivecontent stream information 206. When a next program event change occurs,the end of that program event is determined and the ending location issaved into its respective end boundary marker 210.

In practice, when a user wishes to “pause” the program event, thecurrent video information is paused such that a still image of thecurrent location of the program event is presented on the display 108 ofthe media presentation device 110. Presentation of audio information isalso halted. However, the program content for the presented programevent is still being received in the tuned program content stream 132.The streaming video and/or audio information that is being received issaved into the content stream information 206 of the unique discreteprogram content file 104 for that particular program event. When theuser wishes to resume presentation of the program event, the storedvideo and/or audio information starting from the paused point in theprogram event may be retrieved from the content stream information 206for the continued presentation of the program event.

In an exemplary embodiment, when a user wishes to “rewind” back to apreviously presented point in the program event, the stored contentstream information 206 is accessed in a reverse direction and ispresented to the user such that the video information appears to be inslow or fast reverse motion. When the user recognizes a previouslypresented point of interest in the program event, then the user canrequest that presentation of the program event be resumed from thatpoint of interest. Similarly, a user may wind forward through thediscrete program content file 104 such that the video informationappears to be in slow or fast forward motion.

Some embodiments may be configured to “jump” back through the storedprogram event to the beginning of the recording of the program event.Here, since the beginning location of the content stream information 206is determinable based on the information in the start boundary marker202, the beginning of the recorded program event may be located in theenhanced history buffer 100. Alternatively, or additionally, someembodiments may be configured to “jump” back through the stored programevent by defined increments. Some embodiments may be configured to“jump” back to program flags that may be embedded into the storedprogram event information. Some embodiments may be configured to “jump”forward through the stored program event to the end of the recording ofthe program event.

The user, in some instances, may wish to “jump” back to view previoussaved program events. For example, the user may wish to reviewpresentation of the program event that they were watching prior to themost recent program event change. One or more of the controllers of theremote control 134 may be configured to “jump” back to the beginning ofthe prior program event. Here, the location of the prior content streaminformation 206 is determinable based on the information in its startboundary marker 202. The beginning of the prior program event may beaccessed and presented on the media presentation device 110.Alternatively, or additionally, some embodiments may be configured to“jump” back to the end of the prior program event based on theinformation stored in the end boundary marker 210. The user may thenrewind back through the prior program event and/or through the storedprogram event by defined increments or to the start of the prior programevent.

Additionally, the user may wish to “jump” back to even earlier savedprogram events. The location of the content stream information 206 forany previously stored program event (that has not yet been overwrittenby more recent program events) is determinable based on the informationin its respective start boundary marker 202 or end boundary marker 210.Accordingly, the beginning or end of any recorded program event may beaccessed and presented on the media presentation device 110.

The storage flag 208 manages the type of storage, temporary orpermanent, applied to that particular discrete program content file 104.If the user wishes to save one or more of the stored program events on apermanent basis (i.e., non-temporary basis), the user may simply changethe status of the storage flag 208 to “flag” that stored program eventof interest for permanent saving. When the storage capacity of theenhanced history buffer 100 becomes fully utilized such that earlierstored discrete program content files 104 are overwritten by a currentlypresented program event, any discrete program content files 104 flaggedfor permanent storage will not be overwritten. In some embodiments, theflagged discrete program content file 104 may be automatically moved, ormay be selectively moved, to another storage medium so as to maintainthe storage capacity of the enhanced history buffer 100. In an exemplaryembodiment, the flagged discrete program content file 104 is moved intothe DVR 120.

In an alternative embodiment, certain types of program event changes donot cause an ending of the recording of the prior program event. Forexample, the user may select a new program event that is available on adifferent program content stream. In embodiments having two or moretuners 130 (FIG. 1), the change to the different content stream 132 isimplemented by having the currently unused tuner 130 tune to theselected program content stream 132 such that the new program event ispresented. Since the other tuner 130 is still tuned to and is receivingthe program content for the prior presented program event, storage ofthe program content for the prior presented program event into thecontent stream information 206 of its respective discrete programcontent file 104 may continue.

In the above exemplary embodiment, the transition point where the changefrom the prior program event to the new program event occurred may bemarked or otherwise identified in the start boundary marker 202, the endboundary marker 210, in an intermediate boundary marker (not shown), orin another suitable location in the discrete program content file 104.Thus, if the user wishes to return to the prior program event,presentation can be resumed at the point where the user initiated theprogram event change. Alternatively, presentation of the prior programcan resume at the current real-time presentation of prior program event.

Further, since the other tuner 130 is still receiving the new programevent, storage of the program content for the new program event maycontinue. Accordingly, the user can return to the new program event atany desired time.

In this embodiment, the user may access two concurrently receivedprogram events by selectively “toggling” between the different programevents since each of the tuners 130 a and 130 b are independently tunedto one of the program events. For example, assume that the viewer isinterested in viewing a first football match that is being received bythe tuner 130 a and is also interested in viewing a second footballmatch that is being received by the second tuner 130 b. The user mayselectively toggle between the two different football matches and viewparticular plays that are of interest. Both football matches are beingsaved into unique discrete program content files 104.

Some embodiments have a fast forward and/or fast rewind feature thatallows a user to increase the speed of presentation of the videoinformation in the forward or reverse directions. In the example above,the user could fast forward to a play of interest in the first match,and then switch over to the second match and fast forward or fast rewindto view a play of interest in the second match. By selectively togglingbetween the two matches, and/or by using the fast forward or fast rewindfeatures, the user can selectively view the two different footballmatches.

Some embodiments may be configured to present stored video informationin a selected discrete program content file 104 using a picture inpicture (PIP) mode, a picture over picture (POP) mode, split screenmode, or other suitable dual picture mode. In the football match exampleabove, both football matches can be concurrently viewed using a dualscreen mode. The user may selectively access the video informationand/or the audio information of either football match since bothfootball matches are being recorded into their respective discreteprogram content files 104.

Some media devices may have more than two tuners 130. In such mediadevices 102, the video information for a plurality of program events maybe concurrently presented on a display using a suitable multi-imagepresentation format, such as PIP, POP or a mosaic or tile pattern ofimages. For each of the currently received program events, or selectedones of the program events, a unique discrete program content file 104may be generated wherein the program events may be individually saved.

Some media devices 102 may be configured to receive a program event fromanother device, such as but not limited to, a DVD player that iscommunicatively coupled to the media device 102. Program events receivedfrom these other devices may be stored into a discrete program contentfile 104.

The recorded program events stored in the discrete program content files104 may be managed in accordance with applicable DRM rules. For example,if the program event is a new release movie that has a DRM rulepermitting storage for a predefined duration, a limited time, and/or apredefined number of presentations, then the media device 102 can defineaccess privileges to the stored program event in accordance with the DRMrule.

Further, information used to grant access privileges to a stored programevent in accordance with parental control setting information may beincluded in the discrete program content file 104. Thus, if anunauthorized user attempts to access the discrete program content file104 subject to parental control rules, access can be denied and/orcontrolled in accordance with the applicable parental control rules.Alternatively, the program event information 204 may be used to defineaccess privileges in accordance with current parental controlinformation settings.

The exemplary order of the start boundary marker 202, the program eventinformation 204, the content stream information 206, the optionalstorage flag 208, and the end boundary marker 210 may be configureddifferently in alternative embodiments. For example, the storage flag208 may be located just after the start boundary marker 202 in analternative embodiment. In another embodiment, the storage flag 208 maybe included as part of the program event information 204.

In alternative embodiments, various information pertinent to aparticular stored program event may be separately stored in the discreteprogram content file 104 in a suitable location. For example, DRM and/orparental control information may be separately stored from the programevent information 204.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of theenhanced history buffer 100 are merely possible examples ofimplementations of the invention. Many variations and modifications maybe made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure and protected by the following claims.

1. A method for storing program events into an enhanced history buffer,the method comprising: receiving first program content corresponding toa first program event and second program content corresponding to asecond program event; generating a first discrete program content file,wherein the first discrete program content file being with a first startboundary marker that identifies the start of the first discrete programcontent file; storing the generated first discrete program content filein the enhanced history buffer, wherein the first discrete programcontent file begins at a known starting location in the enhanced historybuffer identified by the first start boundary marker; storing the firstprogram content of the first program event in the first discrete programcontent file as the program content corresponding to the first programevent is received; detecting a program event change corresponding to achange from the first program event to a second program event; adding afirst end boundary marker in the first discrete program content file inresponse to detecting the program event change, wherein the stored firstdiscrete program content file comprises the first start boundary marker,the first program content of the first program event, and the first endboundary marker; generating a second discrete program content file inresponse to detecting program event change, the second discrete programcontent file beginning with a second start boundary marker thatidentifies the start of the second discrete program content file;storing the generated second discrete program content file in theenhanced history buffer, wherein the second discrete program contentfile begins at a known starting location in the enhanced history bufferidentified by the second start boundary marker; and storing the secondprogram content of the second program event in the second discreteprogram content file as the program content corresponding to the secondprogram event is received.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the programevent change is a first program event change, the method furthercomprising: detecting a second program event change corresponding to achange from the second program event and adding a second end boundarymarker in the second discrete program content file in response todetecting the program event change, wherein the stored second discreteprogram content file comprises the second start boundary marker, thesecond program content of the second program event, and the second endboundary marker.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the program eventchange is a first program event change, wherein presentation of thefirst program event ends and presentation of the second program eventbegins in response to detecting the first program event change, andfurther comprising: detecting a second program event changecorresponding to a change from the second program event to the firstprogram event; and presenting the first program event, whereinpresentation of the first program event resumes at one of the knownstarting location and the known ending location of the first program. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein presentation of the first program eventends and presentation of the second program event begins in response todetecting the program event change, and further comprising: continuingthe storing of the first program content in the first discrete programcontent file after the first end boundary marker in response todetecting the program event change.
 5. The method of claim 4, whereinthe program event change is a first program event change, and furthercomprising: detecting a second program event change corresponding to achange from the second program event to the first program event; endingpresentation of the second program event; and resuming presentation ofthe first program event with the currently received first programcontent.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first program event isreceived from a first tuner, and wherein storing the second programcontent of the second discrete program content file comprises: tuning asecond tuner to the second program event; and receiving the secondprogram event from the second tuner.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: presenting the first program event and the second programevent in a dual picture mode; continuing the storing of the firstprogram content of the first program event in the first discrete programcontent file after the first end boundary marker in response todetecting the program event change; and continuing the storing of thesecond program content of the second program event in the seconddiscrete program content.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:storing first information of interest pertaining to the first programevent into a first program event information of the first discreteprogram content file; and storing second information of interestpertaining to the second program event into a second program eventinformation of the second discrete program content file, wherein thestored first discrete program content file comprises the first startboundary marker, the first program event information, the first programcontent of the first program event, and the first end boundary marker,and wherein the stored second discrete program content file comprisesthe second start boundary marker, the second program event information,and the second program content of the second program event.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: generating a history buffer guidebased upon the stored information of interest pertaining to the firstprogram event and the second program event; and presenting the historybuffer guide, wherein the history buffer guide is configured to displaythe stored first information of interest pertaining to the first programevent, and wherein the history buffer guide is configured to display thestored second information of interest pertaining to the second programevent.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first information ofinterest includes digital rights management (DRM) information with atleast one DRM rule applicable to the first program event, and furthercomprising: defining access privileges to the first program event inaccordance with the at least one DRM rule.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein the first information of interest is parental controlinformation applicable to the first program event, and furthercomprising: defining access privileges to the first program event inaccordance with current parental control information settings.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first discrete program content file inthe enhanced history buffer includes a first storage flag, wherein thesecond discrete program content file in the enhanced history bufferincludes a second storage flag, and further comprising: initiallysetting the first storage flag and the second storage flag to indicatethat the respective discrete program content file is a temporarydiscrete program content file, wherein an oldest one of the first andthe second temporary discrete program content files is replaced with aportion of a currently generated discrete program content file after astorage capacity of the enhanced history buffer is utilized.
 13. Amethod for storing program events into an enhanced history buffer, themethod comprising: receiving program content corresponding to each of aplurality of program events; generating a unique discrete programcontent file in the enhanced history buffer for each of the plurality ofprogram events, wherein each discrete program content file begins at aknown starting location in the enhanced history buffer, wherein eachdiscrete program content file ends at a known ending location in theenhanced history buffer, and wherein each discrete program content filebegins with and includes a start boundary marker identifying a beginningof the discrete program content file; storing the received programcontent for each of the plurality of program events in the associatedone of the discrete program content files; and adding a first endboundary marker into a first discrete program content file in responseto detecting a respective program event change, wherein the firstdiscrete program content file comprises a first start boundary marker, afirst program content of a first program event, and the first endboundary marker.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:detecting a program event change corresponding to a change from thefirst program event to a second program event; ending the storing of thereceived program content for the first program event into the firstdiscrete program content file, wherein the first end boundary marker isthen included into the first discrete program content file in responseto ending the storing of the received program content of the firstprogram event; and starting the storing of the received program contentfor the second program event into a second discrete program contentfile, wherein a second start boundary marker is initially included intothe second discrete program content file in response to starting thestoring of the received program content of the second program event. 15.The method of claim 13, wherein each of the discrete program contentfiles in the enhanced history buffer include a storage flag; and furthercomprising: initially setting the storage flag of each of the pluralityof discrete program content files to indicate that the discrete programcontent file is a temporary discrete program content file, wherein anoldest one of the temporary discrete program content files is replacedwith a portion of a currently generated discrete program content fileafter a storage capacity of the enhanced history buffer is utilized. 16.The method of claim 15, further comprising: resetting the storage flagof at least one of the plurality of discrete program content files toindicate that the discrete program content file is a saved discreteprogram content file, wherein the saved discrete program content file isnot replaced with the portion of the currently generated discreteprogram content file after the storage capacity of the enhanced historybuffer is utilized.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:selecting one of the plurality of discrete program content files; andtransferring the selected discrete program content file from theenhanced history buffer into a digital video recorder based upon thestart boundary marker identifying the known starting location and theend boundary marker identifying the known ending location of theselected discrete program content file residing in the enhanced historybuffer.
 18. An enhanced history buffer system configured to temporarilystore a plurality of program events, comprising: an enhanced historybuffer configured to store a plurality of unique discrete programcontent files, wherein each discrete program content file begins with astart boundary marker identifying a known starting location in theenhanced history buffer, wherein each discrete program content file endswith an end boundary marker identifying known ending location in theenhanced history buffer, and wherein each discrete program content filestores a portion of one of the plurality of program events; and aprocessor system, wherein the processor system is configured to:generate a current discrete program content file that initially includesa first start boundary marker that identifies the known startinglocation in the enhanced history buffer; store program content for thecurrently received program event for the currently presented programevent into the current discrete program content file; detect a programevent change corresponding to a change from the current presentedprogram event to a new presented program event; end storage of thecurrently presented program event in the current discrete programcontent file; end generation of the current discrete program contentfile by including a first end boundary marker corresponding to an endinglocation for the current discrete program content file in response todetecting the program event change; generate a new discrete programcontent file that initially includes a second start boundary marker thatidentifies the known starting location for the new discrete programcontent file; and store program content for the newly received programevent into the new discrete program content file.
 19. The enhancedhistory buffer system of claim 18, further comprising: a first tunerconfigured to tune to first program content containing the currentprogram event; and a second tuner configured to tune to second programcontent containing the new program event, wherein the processor systemis configured to concurrently store the current program event receivedfrom the first tuner and the new program event received from the secondtuner.
 20. The enhanced history buffer system of claim 18, wherein eachof the plurality of discrete program content files are initially definedas temporary, wherein the processor system is configured to selectivelyredefine at least one of the discrete program content files as a saveddiscrete program content file, wherein an oldest one of the temporarydiscrete program content files is replaced with a portion of thecurrently generated discrete program content file after storage capacityof the enhanced history buffer is utilized, and wherein the saveddiscrete program content file is not replaced with the portion of thecurrently generated discrete program content file after the storagecapacity of the enhanced history buffer is utilized.
 21. The enhancedhistory buffer system of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality ofdiscrete program content files includes a storage flag that indicateswhether the respective discrete program content file is one of atemporary discrete program content file and permanent discrete programcontent file, and wherein an oldest one of the temporary discreteprogram content files is replaced with a portion of a currentlygenerated discrete program content file after storage capacity of theenhanced history buffer is utilized.